Home Design and Decor Ideas

When you are planning to remodel your home interior, why not include the exterior in the plan as well? Did you know that the exterior of a building is a major factor in determining its value in the real estate market? It may be time to change your home from inside out, literally.

If you are already considering a new exterior home design, focus on areas such as driveways, windows, porches, gardens, and doors. Pay attention to the painting, brickwork and siding as well.

Maximize Space

Convert the garage into an extended living room by installing windows, matching its brickwork to the rest of your house and painting it in an inviting color. If your home is a large and detached one, you’re in luck. It will let you perform major changes such as installing a new verandah or a porch.

Beautify the Garden

It’s time for you to get your hands dirty. Give the garden your undivided attention. Trim, prune, cut, clear out, and water as much as you have to. Leave no trace of weeds or overgrowth. Apply a fresh coat of paint or two on the fence and (if any) the gate. Clean the path using a pressure washer. Add some new planters (of seasonal flowers maybe?) and install some garden lights powered by solar energy. Off you go!

Replace the Front Door with a More Eye-Catching One

Your house’s front door doesn’t have to match with all the others in the neighborhood. Think out of the box and bring home a new front door of a contrasting color. The color doesn’t have to match the exterior color scheme of your house. As long as the colors compliment each other, it will look good. Not only color, you can also pick a design that contrasts with the rest of your home’s design and architecture. The same can be done with some door hardware. For example, add contemporary door hardware like knob, letterbox etc. to conventional exterior-paneled doors and pair up contemporary doors with traditional door furniture.

Invest in New Windows

Windows provide identity to a house. And when it comes to windows, wood is still unbeatable. Your other options are PVC windows, metal windows, and contemporary tilt and turn windows. If you don’t think it’d be financially wise to change the windows completely, upgrade the sashes or look around for some painting ideas to give the windows a facelift.

Repaint

Speaking of painting, you can’t do without repainting if you are thinking about exterior remodeling of your home. Put on your thinking cap and come up with some home painting ideas that will make your home stand out from the crowd.

There’s absolutely no reason why your home exterior shouldn’t look as good as your home interior. Try these tips and you’ll be proud of your decision.

Paint is the easiest way to spruce up a wall, but easy can often translate into boring. While painting a home is easy enough, faux painting techniques are not often explored. Faux painting is nothing more than a little innovative painting. If you want to experiment with wall painting techniques, there are plenty to choose from. However, if you are not very adept at painting, you can start with simpler techniques and work your way up to the more complex painting ideas. Here are some painting tips to get you started.

Stenciling

You may have used stencils as a child to create various arts and crafts. Now you can use the same skills to create works of art on your walls. You can find stencils of various sizes and designs, and using them is simpler than you might imagine. All you need to do is tape the stencil onto the wall with some painters tape, and paint in the cutout section with your paint. You can even use spray paint as it will give a different style to the artwork. This style can be incorporated anywhere around the house, all though you may want to practice in a less visible room first.  Doing it in the kitchen is a waste as there is high chance of it getting tainted with sauces and spices. Stenciling is great for nursery and baby rooms as it brings the walls to life for the little ones.

Sponging

This is perhaps the most known faux painting technique that has been incorporated in various wall designs. You start off with a solid base color. On top of that, you use a damp sea sponge to glaze another color, creating an interesting texture. You can use more than one color for glazing but for your first attempt, stick to one color. You can use a darker shade of the base color for texturing; it will add depth to the walls and is an easier process. Using contrasting colors creates a bolder effect. However, choosing the right color can be quite tricky. When in doubt, refer to the color wheel. It is a tool that helps you with contrasting colors and will give you an idea of what might look good.

Ragging

This is similar to sponging, but in this technique you use a rag. The interesting thing here is that, you do not get quite the uniform texture that you get with a sponge. The texture will differ, depending on how you fold the rag. You can create a more dramatic look with this style, as the effect is more obvious than sponging. Do note that this requires a slightly higher skill level than sponging. It is better to practice a few times with sponging before you graduate to ragging. A badly done rag can look extremely bad!

You can now add character and a bit of your handiwork to the walls by adopting these new painting techniques.

It can be difficult to pick the right type of flooring that you need and it is usually a choice you have to live with for a long time. Hardwood, laminate, tiles and carpet are the most popular choices of flooring to chose from. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and it is important to consider all aspects before you decide on the flooring that is right for you. The primary aspects to consider are budget, practicality, maintenance and aesthetics.

Cost and Maintenance

When it comes to cost, hardwood floors outrank all other types of flooring. Although there are different varieties of hardwood, most of them are expensive. Engineered hardwood might be cheaper and easier to maintain, so you could consider that as an option. Tiles and laminates are usually neck to neck in the cost department as there are various grades of tiles and laminates available at variable costs. When it comes to maintenance, each has its own positive and negative sides. While light colored tiles may be difficult to clean, damaged laminates need to be replaced completely. Although laminates are fairly durable, you will need to replace them in 10 years or so. Tiles, on the other hand, are tougher and you can replace damaged tiles without having to take the entire flooring apart. Carpet is the cheapest option, even with the professional cleaning costs that it might require from time to time.

Practicality and Durability

Hardwood had been the preferred choice for homes for a number of reasons. It has a warm, natural feel, looks elegant and lasts years. But if you live in a humid climate, maintaining the hardwood flooring is a challenge. Hardwood is expensive and needs a lot of care which is not possible for many. Engineered floors however have made it easier, both on the pocket and the effort. Tiling needs minimal maintenance and is a more sterile choice. The sleek surface does not harbor any allergens, moisture or pests. Hence, there’s no need to think twice before tiling a bathroom. However, the cold underfoot is not ideal in cold places. Laminates too need low maintenance hassles, but with a shorter lifetime. Carpets, on the other hand, are demanding and need constant vacuuming and shampooing to keep in good health.

Looks and Aesthetic

Hardwood floors have a distinct elegance but then that depends on personal choice as well, especially when maintenance is such a big task. Laminates, on the other hand, can look a little cheap, although there are many premium looking laminates that are circling the markets. Available in a range of styles and patterns, the tiles can create a clinically white as well as a colorful warm look. You can even experiment a lot with different styles, colors and textures of carpets.

The type of flooring you choose depends on multiple factors and in the end it is only you who can make the final choice based on the facts.

In the age of matchbox houses, if you are lucky enough to have a laundry room, then you are lucky. You can do you laundry in peace and keep your dirty laundry hidden. However, the laundry room tends to be the dullest and least desirable room in the house. The droning sound of the washing machine can be downright depressing, not to mention the very act of ironing clothes. But since these are things that you must do, why not make the best of it? Good laundry room designs might not make the process fun, but it can definitely make it faster.

Get Organized When you are looking for basement design ideas, you need to plan out how you will use the available space. Remember that there are some prime elements in the laundry room – the dirty clothes, the clean un-ironed clothes, and the cleaning products. You need to figure out which should go where so that they will be close at hand just when you need them. You could even squeeze in an ironing table as it will allow you to complete your laundry work in the room itself. Try to think of the order in which you will do things so that you can arrange the elements accordingly. Sinks are a valuable addition to the laundry room designs as it comes handy when washing delicates, or pre-wash soaking.

Space Management Although laundry room is a bit of a luxury, more often than not, it is nothing more than a walk-in closet. As a result, space is always an issue. That is why you need to use the space the best you can. Cleaning products should ideally be kept in a closet so that they are hidden from view. The same goes for the dirty laundry. The next thing to consider is where you will fold the clean clothes. You can add a countertop that is of a convenient height so that you can do the folding with ease without having to bend too much. You can even install a pullout ironing board in the space between the countertop and washing machine.

Storage Solutions Laundry room ideas are incomplete without storage options. First, as discussed before, there are the hidden storage spaces that will house the cleaning products and the laundry basket. Then, you should try and incorporate an open or closed clothesline for the delicates as well clothes that cannot be tumble dried. Do make sure that you have some waterproofing because water will drip from the clothes. Try and avoid wooden storage options in the laundry room as there is a lot of moisture in the atmosphere. Since the laundry room is not such an exciting place, try and spruce it up with some vibrant colors and maybe a tiny TV! By making the most of the laundry room design, you can get the work done quicker and more efficiently.

Dad does a lot around the house to keep things looking their best and in working order and Fathers Day is a time we set aside to recognize his efforts and let him know he is appreciated.

While working in the yard and tackling other landscaping projects may be something many dads like to do, it is nice to get a break sometimes. Here are a few ways you can help dad out around the house this Father’s Day.

Weed the Lawn and Flowerbeds

Pulling weeds seems to be a never-ending battle and no one knows this more than the person responsible for maintaining the yard. As if the lawn weren’t enough, weeds are an annoyance that finds their way into every place possible.

Flowerbeds are another area where weeds love to pop up (and take over if left unattended). Not only are they unsightly, but they can end up damaging the plants, flowers and shrubs around them.

This is because weeds aggressively seek and steal the water and nutrients in the soil away from your desired plants. Some types of weeds actually attach themselves to the roots of other plants and damage them, ultimately killing them.

A few ways to kill and prevent the re-occurrence of weeds include placing a liner in between the soil and any covering element such as mulch, etc. This will help to prevent weeds from being able to sprout up.

Manually pulling weeds up from the roots continues to be a tried and true method for getting rid of them. However, there are also a number of chemical sprays that can be used to eliminate them. Just be sure to choose one that is safe to use on grass and other plants so that you don’t end up killing everything in your attempt to kill a few weeds.

Don’t let weeds undo all the hard work that was put into planting and maintaining the flowerbeds up until this point. This holds especially true for homes with vegetable gardens. Weeds left unattended to can seriously hinder the results of your labor.

Mow the Lawn

Thinking about getting dad a new lawnmower for Father’s Day? While he may definitely appreciate the gesture, only consider making the purchase if the current lawnmower is in dire need of replacing.

Mowing the lawn for dad is a situation where the gesture could mean much more than a shiny new product. This is a great way for teenagers to show their appreciation for dad while giving him a break from toiling away in the heat for hours will be a reward he will truly appreciate.

There is a notion that carpets and rugs are meant only for cooler climates, where people like warmer floors. While that is true, the birth of carpets did occur in the Middle East, a hot land. There are actually many kinds of carpets, from the plush, sink-your-feet-in kinds, to the thinner, lighter variety. That means, whatever the weather, you can incorporate carpets in your interior decorating ideas. Carpets have earned a bad reputation of being high maintenance and unhygienic. It is true that they need a little more care, but they have many benefits that justify their purchase. And if you think you cannot handle wall-to-wall carpets, there are always are rugs to be considered.

Trodden and Trampled

The first thing you need to consider when buying carpet is the installation. If you are putting them in high traffic areas like the living room, you need to be more cautious. If you wish to experiment with carpet colors, when catering to high traffic areas, consider choosing darker shades. You might even want to include patterned carpet design, as solid colors quickly put on a dirty look. For the kitchen and the dining area, it is recommended to stay away from carpets as there would be some definite spillage and staining. If you need a warm floor in the kitchen, go for small carpet style mats, perhaps a berber area rug. They feel warm and cozy, yet much easier to maintain. You could reserve the more expensive and plush carpets for the bedroom where they won’t experience much traffic.

Purpose and Position

While practicality is a definite consideration, you cannot deny that carpets do add a zing to the interior décor. As a result, you might want to incorporate some soft carpets in your living room design as well. A good way to do that is to use plush carpets as a separate seating area, instead of a couch. Just add some brightly colored cushions and hang a strict ‘no shoes’ placard; this way, you can have your very own Moroccan corner in your house. The no-shoe rule also keeps your carpets clean for a longer time.

Quirky and Curious

While there are many average-looking carpets that can fit into any décor, there are some that are quirky and deserve some special attention. If you dare to bring home these statement carpets, keep in mind that the rest of the room’s décor needs to complement the carpet. For statement carpets, there are many choices that will suit different tastes. However, the grass style carpets are particularly popular in summers. If you haven’t had the joy of walking barefoot on natural grass, then this specially designed carpet will fulfill your desire, at least to a certain degree.

Carpets are a great way to add color, warmth and style to your home. When you use them in the right way, they give a new dimension to your home décor.

Foyers are more than just the entryway into your home. They are the first glimpse guests into your home will have. And in case you haven’t heard, first impressions are everything.

Think of the foyer as the main lobby of your home. As with many main lobby entrances, there are a variety of elements that make for a beautiful and functional foyer.

Display Collectibles and Other Treasures

One option is to treat your foyer as a gallery to display any art you may have collected or any items you may have picked up along your travels. As guests enter your home, these interesting pieces will serve as conversation pieces and gives them a bit of insight into your personality and interests.

Central Tables

If your foyer has the space, a central table is a traditional option that acts as a focal point from which visitors can view begin to view other elements of the foyer’s design as they flow from the entryway to other areas of your home. Large central tables are a beautiful base to display vases, fresh flowers, trinkets, coffee table books and more.

Seating

For those who need a more functional entryway, seating in the foyer is almost essential. For example, having the option to sit down and place put on rain boots (without having to do this while standing and avoid tipping over) or while waiting on other members of the family to get ready is a great convenience.

Lighting

Lighting in a foyer is an important aspect to consider. Too dark and the effort you placed into the different design elements will go unnoticed. Too high and the light may not be distributed evenly throughout the space and can cast awkward and unsightly shadows.

Aside from the light itself is the actual light fixture plays a large role in the overall look and feel of your foyer. Crystal chandeliers aren’t known for creating a relaxed atmosphere. Light fixtures set the tone.

Console Tables

Ideal for narrow entryways, console tables placed flush against the wall are great for organizing the miscellaneous items that are often misplaced. Bowls that can hold keys, loose coins, etc. are good fits for console tables and can make things a bit less stressful by keeping things in one place.

If you are a book lover, you must have collected plenty of books in your life. Some may be under your coffee table, some stacked on the nightstand and some haphazardly kept in various cabinets. This not only makes your home look untidy but this also means you never find the book you are looking for. If you are a true book lover, you should not treat your precious collection so callously. It is time to come up with some home library ideas and give your books a proper shelter. You do not need a palatial house to incorporate a home library design, sometimes a little bit of ingenuity helps.

For Larger Spaces

If you have an extra room, you could go all out for a full-fledged library design. When it comes to home library ideas, wood and leather have always been the classic choice. The rich woody scent mingled with the distinct smell of books blend to form the very typical ‘library’ smell. Some people really like this library smell and want to incorporate that into their home libraries too. Those of you, who want a slightly more modern style, can opt for asymmetric shelves, white décor and interesting furniture. The different colored book spines against the white backdrop give an interesting look. But you might want to hang on to the leather chair!

For Smaller Spaces

The problem with modern homes is that there is hardly ever space for a full library these days. We need to make do with the little space we have. Thus in case of smaller spaces, it is even more necessary to get organized. Now your library skills may not be the best in the world, but it will get better with practice. How you organize your library depends on you and your collection. If you have many books of the same author, then it makes no sense to arrange the books according to authors. Then an alphabetical approach can be taken. The main concept is to club several books under the same head – the heads will depend on your collection. Make sure you categorize intelligently so that there is no disparity in space management. That is, one part should not be overflowing while other stays empty.

For Integrated Spaces

Often, we do not have even the smallest room at our disposal and we need to integrate the home library design into the available space. In that case, you need to use clever library display ideas to make the most of the space. For an open planned house, using a book case as a room divider could be an excellent way to use space. Try and store shorter books on the higher shelves to reduce too much visual barrier. You would not want the room to look too stuffy.

Whatever the home’s design, with a little ingenuity, you can install a library. Just make sure you keep in neat and clean and do not let it grow so big that it dominates the rest of the house.

With warm weather usually comes the need to spend as much time entertaining outdoors as possible. Maybe this is because of all the time being pent up indoors for months of inclement weather or maybe it comes from a desire to get as much out of the warm weather because you know it will be over before you know it.

Whatever the reason, one of the best ways to get the most out of warm days is to entertain by dining outdoors. Successfully entertaining and dining outdoors requires a bit more planning ahead than hosting dinner indoors.

This guide will help walk you through the steps necessary to pull off a great dinner party outdoors.

Make It Tolerable (Deal with the Bugs)

If you’re going to be spending any significant amount of time outdoors, it is essential to address the inevitable pest problem. Because nothing ruins time outdoors more than festering mosquitoes that are having a dinner party of their very own.

There are many options for dealing with mosquitoes and some of theme include citronella candles, tikki torches (which perform double duty as lighting when the sun sets on your event) and sprays that can be applied to common areas ahead of time.

Create Cool Areas

If your outdoor party will take place while the sun is still up, it will be important to create cool zones. If your backyard features a deck or other covered areas, then you may be alright (it ultimately depends upon how many people will be showing up). If not, consider placing outdoor umbrellas under which coolers filled with refreshing beverages will be stored.

Multiple Seating Options

Many of your guests will choose to stand up for most (or all) of your outdoor gathering. Just make sure they are standing because they chose to and not because they have no other place to sit.

If your backyard isn’t fully decked out with permanent seating options ideal for entertaining, it’s not that big of a deal. Purchase a few benches that can be arranged into communal-style seating (to encourage mingling) or choose among the multitude of individual chairs in any array of colors and styles to suit your taste and home’s style.

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While there are many decorating and menu options to work out when you’re planning an outdoor party, these are the essential that must be covered regardless of the type of outdoor party you are planning on throwing.

Days spent at the beach with your toes in the sand and enjoying the gentle breeze are the highlight of the summer and something many people look forward to throughout the entire year.

For those fortunate enough to own second homes near beaches, this lifestyle is not only readily accessible, but one that is enjoyed often. For others, there are still ways to enjoy beach vibes for as long as you see fit.

Beach home decor is light, relaxing and versatile (as it is suitable for both warm and cool color schemes). Whether you’re decorating your living space to resemble a summer home or you’re looking to redecorate your beach home, there are some elements of beach home decor that you can implement to incorporate the feel.

Materials

As a general rule of thumb to guide your beach home designing, there are certain materials that are found in modern beach homes and will immediately incorporate the laid back feel you’re looking for.

These materials include warm or distressed woods, rope, wicker and floral, tropical or oceanic patterns and images.

Materials like these can be incorporate by introducing things like distressed wood flooring, wicker furniture, picture frames and other artwork housed in frames made of driftwood, etc.

Don’t overlook the impact accent pieces can have on rounding out your beach home designs. Accent pieces complete your efforts by reinforcing the environment you’ve set out to create.

Colors

Colors commonly found in beach home designs include blues, greens and yellows. This is because these colors remind of us the water, lush landscapes and sunsets, which are all the elements we love so much about visiting the beach.

Perhaps the most popular color for beach home designs is white. The expansive use of white helps to open up a space and make rooms feel open and airy. It also makes incorporating other bolder design elements easier because there is no other colors or patterns to clash with.

Accent pieces are a great way to bring in these common beach home colors. Look for items like lamps, clocks, accent tables, etc. that feature these colors and patterns.

Furniture

Furniture constructed of wood stained in warm tones like mahogany create inviting environments. Sturdy wicker furniture is also ideal because they don’t appear to be as heavy or cumbersome as traditional furniture, which emphasizes the light and relaxing feel beach homes are known for.

Purchasing furniture upholstered in tropical or nautical patterns is a strong way to influence the overall design of your beach home. This is because furniture, naturally, takes up the majority of your space and is a focal point in the home.

If that would be too much of a project to take on, consider accent pillows and drapes in those patterns that would essentially have the same effect.

Exterior paint is very important in making a home look presentable. Paint peeling off is the first sign of neglect and the more you neglect it, the worse it gets. That is why you should keep the exterior house painting in your home maintenance budget every few years. How long the paint will last depends primarily on the weather of the place. The more rain, dust and sun it bears, the sooner the paint is likely to wear off. That is why you need to set your painting schedule based on how long the paint generally lasts in your area. The thing about exterior house painting is that it is an exhaustive process and very few try the DIY route. However, if you are planning to do so, here are a few house painting ideas that might come handy.

Choosing the Right Base

You may have heard the oil vs. water debate for years now. The debate has still not found a definite winner and isn’t likely to do so very soon. Let’s make it easier for you to choose:

Water based latex paints dry easily, can be cleaned with soap and water and have no VOC. Oil-based alkyds on the other hand, take longer to dry, but are more durable. However, since they are not as flexible as latex paints, they are more likely to crack. It is a silly misconception that water based paints dissolve with the rain. Once the paint dries, it can very well withstand rains, which is a definite requirement for exterior house colors.

Choosing the Right Tools

Tools are making life easier in every arena, why should painting be left behind. Brushes are indeed important in painting but when painting large areas, roller comes in particularly handy. Just dip it in the paint and roll it on the walls. Professional exterior color ideas state that you should always start at the top and work your way down. That way, you do not smudge the paint on your way up. For the trims, nooks and corners use paint brush, while the roller helps covering large areas. This will not only ensure that more work gets done in less time but it also ensures that the paint goes on much more uniformly.

Preparing the Ground

Once you have selected your color and your tools, it is time to prep the walls for the paint. First you need to scrape off the old paints from the wall. Here another thing should be taken into consideration. If you have always had oil based exterior house colors, then you should continue with oil based paints. Water based paints do not stick on an oil-painted surface. Even if you scrape the walls, the oil residue remains and prevents the water paint to adhere to the walls. Another thing that you must do is apply a primer before the paint; it will last for years.